controls 1 of 2

Definition of controlsnext
plural of control
1
as in controllers
a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4

controls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of control
1
2
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of controls
Noun
Yet the Avs’ power play without Makar at the point is more or less what the Broncos’ offense looks like when Jarrett Stidham’s at the controls. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 23 May 2026 Key Takeaways Wasps are beneficial as pollinators and pest controls, but a nest near your house can cause problems. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 May 2026 App controls, software updates, diagnostics and support all depend on that connection. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026 Northwestern had a 20-9 advantage in draw controls for the game. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026 Shift spend from one-off proofs of concept to platform assets (data pipelines, model life cycle tooling, integration patterns, security and access controls) that multiple teams can reuse. Tom Hood, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Smugglers Run has always been full of distractions, as the screen — in front and somewhat above guests — pulls viewers away from the seat-adjacent wall controls. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026 In most cases, similar to engine controls, this climate control system can be checked for codes and the various modes manipulated with a scan tool. John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026 The chassis has also been redesigned around new electronic controls. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026
Verb
Unlike a conventional air suspension setup designed mainly for comfort, DiSus-P actively controls the height and damping of each wheel independently. Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026 While the Congolese government still largely controls the northeastern Ituri Province, the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak, that control is tenuous. ABC News, 24 May 2026 But many of the spillways are failing due to sea-level rise, according to the agency that controls them, and the anticipated 5 to 20 inches of sea-level rise in coming decades will be catastrophic for the region unless something drastic, and expensive, is done. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026 Most notably, the groundbreaking Caliber 7138 movement controls all functions via the crown, eliminating the need for unsightly pushers or buttons on the case. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 May 2026 Beijing controls the supply chain for many obscure minerals that are critical components of smartphones, cars and weapons. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 18 May 2026 Through Vivendi, Bolloré already controls the Canal+ channel and its subsidiaries, including StudioCanal, Europe’s number one film production company. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 May 2026 The United States controls approximately 75% of global high-performance AI compute capacity. David Liberman, Fortune, 16 May 2026 But that’s not how mob boss Semion Bogoyavich (Victor Ptak), who controls a vast criminal network, operates. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controls
Noun
  • According to air traffic communications, the crew informed controllers that they had been forced to stop on the runway after the collision and confirmed that there were 231 people on board.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026
  • The pilot told controllers there were 231 people and more than 21,000 pounds of fuel on board, according to the audio clip.
    Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Both girls are high achievers, happy at school and their other activities, but the parents do have their hands full managing the dynamics because one of the girls has a pretty serious anxiety disorder.
    R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 26 May 2026
  • But the 5-foot-11, 229-pounder still packed a punch with his hands.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Jeff Charles, operations supervisor for Orange County Stormwater Management, said crews prepared days before landfall by lowering retention ponds and staging emergency pumps throughout vulnerable areas.
    Greg Bennett, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
  • That includes details about industrial operations at the plant and about the quality and frequency of maintenance of the tanks and safety systems.
    Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 May 2026
Noun
  • Because of something that happened to him during the war, Ben has your typical Spider-Man powers.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
  • The previous truth speaks to the incentives that already exist for the powers-that-be in the industry to fix it.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Some foods contain melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates your sleep cycle.
    Trista Chan, Health, 25 May 2026
  • This sends a signal along sensory nerve fibers to the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic branch, which is the same system that regulates your heart rate, sweat response and pupil dilation.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • There are high hopes for young midfielder Harrison Armstrong, whose contract also contains a club option for a further year.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • Don’t use water that has a dark color, an odor or contains floating material.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • Right now, rules governing who pays when disaster strikes are too often opaque, inequitable, and poorly designed to incentivise prevention.
    Nina Seega, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • Technically, the Heat isn’t eligible to trade its 2026 first-round pick because NBA rules prevent teams from being without a first-round selection in two consecutive years .
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • Planet Labs designs, builds, and operates a fleet of satellites that provides global imagery and geospatial data.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 24 May 2026
  • Animal print operates as a neutral in my wardrobe, but Anne Hathaway’s been making the case for wearing it as a pop of print in footwear.
    Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 24 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Controls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controls. Accessed 26 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on controls

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster